Week 1 Reviews: Tracker, Bloodline

From Goodreads:
From New York Times bestselling author James Rollins comes a stirring story of a soldier and his military war dog who are drawn into a dark mystery tracing back to World War II and a lost treasure tied to the bones of the dead.

Off the blustery streets in the medieval heart of Budapest, Captain Tucker Wayne and his war dog, Kane, rescue a mysterious woman fleeing three armed men. The secret she holds will unlock a terrible treasure, one steeped in blood and treachery, tied to a crime going back to the fall of Nazi Germany and a heritage of suffering and pain that reaches out from the past to wreak havoc today. In a final showdown in the depths of a lost cemetery, truths will be unearthed, treasures exposed, and the fate of all will rest upon the shoulders of one man and a dog whose courage is beyond measure.

From Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author James Rollins takes you to the edge of modern medicine, genetics, and technology, revealing the next evolutionary leap forward: Immortality—a future conceived through the monstrous ingenuity of man . . .

Galilee, 1025. A cunning Templar knight uncovers a holy treasure: the Bachal Isu—the staff of Jesus Christ—a priceless icon that holds a mysterious and terrifying power that will forever change humanity if unleashed.

A millennium later, Somali pirates hijack a yacht off the coast off the Horn of Africa, kidnapping a young pregnant American woman and brutally killing her husband. Painter Crowe and his SIGMA team are enlisted for the top secret rescue mission. The kidnapped woman is Amanda Gant-Bennett, the daughter of U.S. president James Gant. Crowe is more than a little suspicious that the kidnapping masks a far more nefarious plot.

In the field, Commander Gray Pierce leads his small team of operatives into the treacherous African jungle to find the missing woman. But what should be a straightforward rescue turns into a fiery ambush and a deadly act of betrayal. As Commander Pierce and his team discover, the hostage is a pawn in a shattering act of terrorism with dark and shocking repercussions. And the danger is only beginning . . .

My first review of Bloodline
My Review:
Oh, I absolutely loved these books! So freaking good, and the story was enriched by Tracker, because I didn't read it the first time, but I did this time, and we got so much more detail with that book, with more Kane POV's!

I think the Kane POV's were my most favourite, because they were really unique, and and different from the only other one that I've read, the Warriors series, which had one with dogs. So yeah, there was that, plus, I have 2 doggies (though they are definitely not as well trained as Kane!)

And then there was the pain for Gray. I'd forgotten about what happened to his mom at the end of The Devil Colony, so yeah, I didn't have that the first time I read Bloodline, but I did this time, and yeah, his pain, adding to that, his dad's increasingly worsening symptoms of Alzheimers, yeah, Gray's head isn't in a good place with this mission!

Yeah, we got to connect Deep Fathom even more to the Sigma series beyond Lisa, because Jack is in this book briefly, supplying a sub so they can get close to the bad guys' location without them knowing! And yeah, this was way better to read without the reprinted pages, because those pages printed over ones that hadn't happened yet, so I missed them the first time, and I didn't this time!

Oh, loved these stories a lot, and I can't wait for another James Rollins book!

Author: James Rollins
Series: Sigma #7.5, 8
First Read: August 4th, 2012
Read: December 30th, 30th, 2013
Source: Tuebl, Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And they're Sequel Challenge 2013 Books!
Publisher: William Morrow
Published: June 12th 2012, June 26th 2012

Tracker:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Bloodline:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: City of Lost Souls

From Goodreads:
The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon. Can the lost be reclaimed? What price is too high to pay for love? Who can be trusted when sin and salvation collide?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge.

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

My first review of City of Lost Souls
My Review:
Oh, wow, such a great book, I had such an excellent time rereading it! And only because of it's size did it actually take me that long to actually getting around to rereading it! Which is not its fault, it's just that I put it off because it was long, and then I wanted to read it less, Jennifer Lynn Barnes did a blog post on the Psychology of the TBR Pile and cognitive dissonance. And yeah, that's what happened with this book.

Loved being with these characters again, because I really enjoy reading their adventures, their tragedies. And if you look at it one way, this book had both, from Clary disregarding what Jace said to kill him so Sebastian wouldn't have control over him, Magnus breaking up with Alec, to Jordan and Maya maybe finding their way back to dating each other again.

Poor Jace and Clary, I mean, they've been through so much, from falling in love, being told that they were brother and sister, finding out that they weren't, then Jace being whispered by Lilith until she possessed him, and now Sebastian controls him, and he knows that, but he can't control himself, and yeah, that's just not good for their relationship!

Sebastian was extra creepy, from the clothing that was for their mom, to kissing Clary, and how she broke the house with the rune, if I remember right, was the one that she used on the boat in Ashes? Yeah, this book had a lot going on, and then it ended, with so many things not how they should be (Jace with angel fire, Magnus and Alec broken up, ext) that I can't wait the 4-5 months for City of Heavenly Fire!!!

I loved this book, it was so freaking good, and yeah, CoHF, here I come for you, very soon, but so very far away!

Author: Cassandra Clare
Series: The Mortal Instruments #5
First Read: August 4th, 2012
Read: December 30th, 2013

Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book and a LLFL Book!
Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry
Published: May 8th 2012

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Flicker & Burn

From Goodreads:
Sara Jane Rispoli is still searching for her missing family, but instead of fighting off a turncoat uncle and crooked cops, this time she finds herself on the run from creepy beings with red, pulsing eyes and pale white skin chasing her through the streets in ice cream trucks; they can only be described as Ice Cream Creatures. They're terrifying and hell bent on killing her, but they're also a link to her family, a clue to where they might be and who has them. While she battles these new pursuers, she's also discovering more about her own cold fury and more about the Chicago Outfit, how the past misdeeds--old murders and vendettas--might just be connected to her present and the disappearance of her family. But connecting the dots is tough and time-consuming and may finally be the undoing of her relationship with the handsome Max--who's now her boyfriend. But for his own safety, Sara Jane may have to end this relationship before it even really starts. Her pursuers who've shown her her mother's amputated finger and the head of the Chicago Outfit who's just whistled her in for a sit-down make a romance unthinkable. The only thing that matters is finding her family and keeping everyone she loves alive.

My Review:
Oh, what a great sequel! I absolutely loved to be in this world again, because just like Cold Fury, it was utterly amazing, dark, thrilling, and absolutely unique, I mean, the cold fury being used by the criminal sector? That's something else!

The Ice Cream Creatures, we got to see them in Cold Fury, but in this book, we definitely got to see them more, as they proved to be pretty firm in the fact that they are, to Sara, the bad guys, like it mentions, her mom's finger. That was just really creepy!

Oh, poor Sara and Max! I really enjoyed their fledgling relationship in Cold Fury, and then they had a lot of problems in this book, from the fact that her family is still kidnapped, and the whole Chicago Outfit being after her and all, yeah, there's that!

The ending! Just as great as the first one, and yeah, I just absolutely loved it, as it was breaking my heart, because there's a wait of the next book, and I can't wait for it, but yeah, I do have to wait for it, so yeah, it's torture!

Loved this book so much, can't wait to read the last book!

Author: T.M. Goeglein
Series: Cold Fury #2
Read: December 29th, 2013
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: Loved the first book, and it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book and a Sophomore Challenge Book!
Publisher: Putnum Juvenile
Published: August 20th 2013

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Ten Big Ones

From Goodreads:
"I'm Stephanie Plum. My mother says that I'm famous and have to set a good example. She's right, but I'm from Jersey and truth is, I have a hard time getting a grip on the good example thing."

Swing off the Jersey Turnpike and you'll be in bounty hunter Stephanie Plum's neighborhood. You'll know it because all hell will be breaking loose. Not that she looks for trouble - it just seems to follow her. In Ten Big Ones it explodes at a deli, and when Stephanie pegs a robber as a member of a vicious Trenton gang, they peg her as dead. Vice cop Joe Morelli fears she's in way too deep - even with the help of crime-solving, cross-dressing, bus driver Sally Sweet, and Stephanie's friend Lula riding shotgun as backup. With a notorious killer on her tail, Stephanie figures the best hideout is Ranger's secret lair...

My Review:
Another funny, amazing mystery, of Stephanie and just pure hilariousness, because like it says, trouble seems to follow her, putting her in some incredibly hilarious, sometimes really stupid, and ridiculous situations! Yeah, I loved the funny in this series!

Of course in this book, there's the staple of Stephanie's cars being blown up, and I've lost count now, how many have been blown up, crushed, and just destroyed, over the course of the series! It's just a tiny bit ridiculous! Of course, this is only book 10, there's at least 10 more out, and more to come!

We get Sally again! We haven't seen him for a good long while, and it was nice to see him again! And of course he has to help out with Valerie's wedding, being the fashionista that he is! He is just another fantastic, hilarious character in a whole cast! (besides most of the bad guys)

Loved how the mystery wrapped up nicely in this book, like with the others, including how Stephanie and some of her gang kidnapped the "Red Devil," the man that she identified as the leader one of the gangs. Yeah. Like she said, she doesn't know how to be a good example!

Loved this book, too hilarious, can't wait to read more of this series!

Author: Janet Evanovich
Series: Stephanie Plum #10
Read: December 28th, 2013
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: Enjoying this series, and it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book!
Publisher: St. Martin;s Press
Published: June 21st 2005

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: A Radiant Sky

From Goodreads:
Since the night of her seventeenth birthday, Skye has been torn between two opposites: Light and Dark, the Order and the Rebellion, Devin and Asher.

But her decision shocked both sides—because she chose neither.

With the help of her friends, Skye forges her own path, setting out to gather an uprising of Rogues. The treacherous and elusive half-angels may be the key to maintaining the balance of fate and free will. But completing the mission her parents left unfinished is more difficult—and dangerous—than she could have imagined. And doing so comes at a cost: Her greatest love may now be a lethal enemy. Because it’s not just the Order that sees her as a threat who must be eliminated. The Rebellion does, too.

And both sides will do whatever it takes to win.

Dark days lie ahead, and if Skye is to survive, she’ll need to rely on her extraordinary powers and the strength of her will. Because she has a future—and a love—that’s worth fighting for.

The sweeping, darkly romantic story that began with A Beautiful Dark and gathered intensity in A Fractured Light comes to a thrilling conclusion in A Radiant Sky.

My Review:
Oh, this was such a great ending to such a wonderful series! Because Skye made her choice at the end of the last book-because Devin came with her, and Asher didn't. Which is something of a heart-breaker, and then on top of that, well, the synopsis says it all.

I loved how it started right after where A Fractured Light ended, because that was a significant choice that Skye made, that has been something that they have wanted-but neither group, the Order, the Rebellion-wanted what she chose. Even if what she chose was the right thing!

I kinda really hated Asher for a while in this book, because he was so stuck in being in the Rebellion, that he couldn't see the merits of her choice, because there has to be a balance between fate and free will, or yeah, it'll be one side taking over the other, and and we need both.

The ending! I know a few people didn't like it, thinking it was a bit, like the movie Breaking Dawn Part 2's, minus the fake out, but the feelings that the fake out induced, but I liked it, even if there were a few deaths. It was appropriate to the series!

Loved, loved, loved this series, and this book wrapped it up very nicely! I'll have to reread it sometime next year!

Author: Jocelyn Davies
Series: A Beautiful Dark #3
Read: December 28th, 2013
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: Enjoyed the first 2 books, and it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book and End of Series 2013 Book!
Publisher: Harper Teen
Published: September 24th 2013

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Wild Rain

From Goodreads:
To escape an assassin, Rachel finds sanctuary in the rainforest, where the most exotic of all creatures walks: Rio. But when he unleashes his secret animal instincts, Rachel fears that her isolated haven could become an inescapable hell...

My Review:
Oh, man, what a great book! I mean, they're a spectacular romance, an incredible world, and just great writing, that comes with great characters! I just absolutely loved this book, and I loved rereading it, because it was so good!

A little back story to this book, is that when I first read it, I read it while I was on a Bahamas cruise, so for this vacation that I'm back from, I decided that I was going to do that again. And while I didn't manage to read it while I was on the cruise, I did read it while I was on the vacation, so that's good enough for me!

I really enjoyed reading about these characters, and having actually read the first story! I loved being submerged in this world, and it's pretty unique-most shape shifter books are usually about wolves, and they're usually in the US. But this one takes jungle cats, and puts them in South America (at least, that's where I'm pretty sure they are, if they actually mentioned a country, I've forgotten it already!)

Totally enjoyed Rachel and Rio together, and how Rachel learns more about their world, and what she is, and then she goes through their species version of puberty, but only for like, a few days, not years. And yeah, their reactions, how they took care of each other's various injuries. Yep.

I just loved this book, and yeah, really enjoyed it, and can't wait to read more!!!

Author: Christine Feehan
Series: Leopard People #2
First Read: February 14th, 2009
Read: December 28th, 2013
Source: Own
Reason Why: Rereading! And it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book!
Publisher: Jove
Published: January 27th 2004

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 1 Review: Spirit's Chosen

From Goodreads:
Himiko's world is falling apart. An attack by the Ookami clan has left many from her tribe dead or enslaved. And those who remain in the ransacked Matsu village are certain they've angered the gods. Amid the chaos and fear, Himiko hatches a plan to save her beloved tribe. Traveling through the treacherous wilderness with her best friend Kaya, their only goal is to free her clanfolk from the Ookami. At every turn she encounters other tribes and unforeseen challenges. But just when it seems that she will outwit Ryu, the cruel Ookami leader, she is captured. Held agains her will, Himiko starts to realize that not all of the Ookami are her enemies and every step of her unconventional journey has prepared her for something greater than life as a princess. Though she may not see her path as clearly as the spirits seem to, there's more adventure (and even unexpected love) for this young shamaness and warrior.

My Review:
Oh, I really enjoyed this book! It did break my heart, because that "unexpected love" Daimu, he dies, and somehow he was connected to the guy that she's been dreaming about before, and yeah, that was really sad, that Ryu, was stubborn, and didn't listen to her warnings about the coming disaster, and that's why Daimu died!

This was a really great book, and the outrages that Ryu caused, from his treatment of Daimu's uncle's bones, and of her people, and the ones that Ryu saw as slaves, that was just hard to read. But his family was comparably kind to her brother, so that was a small mercy, though he was used against Himiko.

I loved how Himiko grows up in this book, to see beyond the prejudices of different tribes, of the one that killed so many of her family, becoming the shaman and leader of her tribe, and her mom, being broken over all that the Ookami did to her family.

I loved how it ended with her going to basically rule all the tribes, to bring them together, but that they'd all have their individual leaders like her dad and Ryu, but that they were all together, and that it was a fulfilment of her and Daimu's dream of better things!

I really enjoyed this book, and I don't know why it took me so long to read it!! So good!!

Author: Esther Friesner
Series: Spirit's Princess #2, Princesses of Myth #8
Read: December 28th, 2013
Source: Tuebl
Reason Why: Love Esther Friesner's writing! And it's a Historical Fiction 2013 Book, and a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book!
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers
Published: April 23rd 2013

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Review: Charmed Vengeance

From Goodreads:
In the Faerie realm, Noli Braddock's relationship with her best friend V has grown into something more. But V's mother, Faerie Queen Tiana, has ruled that they are forbidden to see each other. Returning to the mortal realm, Noli joins the crew of her brother's air-pirate ship, the Vixen's Revenge. There she discovers that her brother has hired the scallywag Faerie huntsman, Kevighn Silver. While serving as shipmates, Kevighn and Noli learn that the Earth Court King plans to find a forbidden artifact--one that will bring destruction to everyone Noli loves.

My Review:
This book was darker then Innocent Darkness, because it deals with the after effects from Innocent Darkness, and yeah, it involves a lot of broken hearts, and yeah, V and James' mom Tiana, she's like the ultimate witch with a b. Very nasty!

V and Noli don't have a lot of book time together in this book, and yeah, while that's sad, Noli does a lot by herself again, like not going home like an obedient girl to become some guy's wife, but running off to her brother to work on the Vixen's Revenge, where she runs into Kevighn. Yeah.

And like Innocent Darkness, we got a few other POV's, and it was interesting to see what everybody else was doing when they weren't with Noli, and what they were thinking, because they were doing and thinking some really interesting things!

Everything that I loved about Innocent Darkness, the steampunk, the action, was all notched up a degree in this book, because yeah, they spend a bit more time on Earth, because there's not a lot of steampunk in the Faerie realm, what with iron, and iron being something kinda important (well, metal) to steampunk!

Absolutely loved this book, and I really can't wait for Fragile Destiny after that cliff hanger ending!

Author: Suzanne Lazear
Series: The Aether Chronicles #2
Read: December 27th, 2013
Source: NetGalley
Reason Why: Loved Innocent Darkness, and it's a Sequel Challenge 2013 Book, Historical Fiction 2013 Book, and a Sophomore Challenge 2013 Book!
Publisher: Flux
Published: August 8th 2013

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Week 52 Reviews: Fearless, Spark, Breathless, Spirit, Secret

From Goodreads:
Being a force of nature doesn't keep you safe. Hunter Garrity is used to watching his back. The kids at school sense something different about him. And they're right.

Hunter has powers that have nothing to do with how hard he can throw a punch.

Maybe that's what Clare Kasten is picking up. She's shy, quiet, and intense, but she's sought him out. There's no telling what she wants from him.


But Hunter knows enough to sense a secret when it s close. And getting close to Clare is a danger he's ready to face...

From Goodreads:
Gabriel Merrick plays with fire. Literally. Sometimes he can even control it. And sometimes he can't. Gabriel has always had his brothers to rely on, especially his twin, Nick. But when an arsonist starts wreaking havoc on their town, all the signs point to Gabriel. Only he's not doing it. And no one seems to believe him. Except a shy sophomore named Layne, a brainiac who dresses in turtlenecks and jeans and keeps him totally off balance. Because Layne has a few secrets of her own...

From Goodreads:
Too many secrets. Not enough time.

Nick Merrick is supposed to be the level-headed one. The peacemaker. Since it's just him and his three hotheaded brothers against the world, that's a survival tactic.

But now he's got problems even his brothers can't help him survive.

His so-called girlfriend, Quinn, is going quick as mercury from daring to crazy. Meanwhile, Quinn's dancer friend Adam is throwing Nick off balance, forcing him to recognize a truth he’d rather shove back into the dark.


He can feel it—the atmosphere is sizzling. Danger is on the way. But whatever happens next, Nick is starting to find out that sometimes nothing you do can keep the peace.

From Goodreads:
With power comes enemies. Lots of them.

Hunter Garrity just wants to be left alone. He's learned the hard way that his unusual abilities come at a price. And he can't seem to afford any allies.

He's up to his neck in hostiles. His grandfather, spoiling for a fight. The Merrick brothers, who think he ratted them out. Calla, the scheming psycho who wants to use him as bait.

Then there's Kate Sullivan, the new girl at school. She's not hostile. She's bold. Funny. Hot. But she's got an agenda, too.


With supposedly secret powers rippling to the surface everywhere around him, Hunter knows something ugly is about to go down. But finding out what means he'll have to find someone he can trust…

From Goodreads: 
Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he'll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother's business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he's going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he'll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who's supposed to be his "girlfriend's" partner.

Of course there's also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There's a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

My Review:
This has been an awesome series, and I'm going to be sad to say good bye after Sacrifice! I love these brothers, they've been through a lot, and things have been progressive been getting harder, not easier or better, and yeah, some mistakes have been made along the way, but people learn from their mistakes.

I loved how each brother has gotten a novel, or is going to with Michael with Sacrifice, from Chris, Gabriel, Hunter, and then Nick, even though Hunter isn't an Merrick, he's a part of their group since he helped them instead of harmed them in Storm!

I loved all the different gifts these guys have, and then how strong their ladies (and Nick's guy) were, because yeah, it takes a strong person to be with these guys, because they have power, and power can be good or bad, but it does corrupt if you aren't strong, and if you're strong, you're often stubborn. So thus, a strong partner!

People really dislike their family, what with each boy having a different element, even the twins, which you'd think wouldn't happen, but it did, and yeah, I just want to shake their dissenters, because they were just born with it, they haven't done anything bad. You guys, on the other hand, have. So remember glass houses and throwing rocks at them!

Yeah, I really enjoyed these books, and I can't wait for Sacrifice to come out!

Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Elemental #1.5, 2,  2.5, 3, 4
Read: December 26th, 26th, 26th, 26th, 26th, 2013
Source: Tuebl, NetGalley
Reason Why: Enjoying this series, and they're a Sequel Challenge 2013 Books!
Publisher: K Teen
Published: July 31st 2012, August 28th 2012, April 30th 2013, May 28th 2013
Expected Publication: January 28th 2014

Fearless:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Spark:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Breathless:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Spirit:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars

Secret:

5/5 Hearts

5/5 Books

5/5 Stars